Jeepers Creepers II (2003)

After the “screaming” success of the sleeper hit Jeepers Creepers, writer/director Victor Salva was eager to bring the Creeper back to the screen and continue its horrifying – and darkly fun – reign of terror. Luckily, to bring about the monster’s return, many of the original filmmakers returned as well. Salva was able to assemble virtually the same producing team for the sequel: United Artists and American Zoetrope, with Francis Ford Coppola and Bobby Rock as executive producers; Tom Luse returned as producer; and Myriad Pictures was soon on board as well with Kirk D’Amico and Lucas Foster as executive producers and Philip von Alvensleben as co-executive producer.

One of 2001’s surprise hits, the original Jeepers Creepers centered on Darry and Trish, a brother and sister roadtripping their way home from college to begin their spring break. After an unexpected discovery at an abandoned church, the siblings find themselves pursued by an ancient, evil creature bound and determined to kill and devour one of them – and neither knows who the Creeper wants until the film’s grisly conclusion.

Audiences ate it up, so to speak. Though it’s a horror film, the relationship between the siblings is portrayed very realistically. The rich characterization and resonance of their relationship heightens the dramatic impact of the impending horror as the Creeper gets nearer and nearer to his intended victim. It made for a roller coaster ride filmgoers were eager to take.

“Victor is a very good storyteller,” says producer Luse. “He tells his stories with well chosen words, but also with indelible, powerful images. His is a very classic style of filmmaking that has genuine appeal in a time when there’s a lot of flash and less substance in horror movies and other genre films. Jeepers Creepers stressed the importance of good acting and storytelling. Unlike many films aimed at the same audience, Victor tells a compelling story with a horror element to it rather than just telling a horror story.”

In writing the new screenplay, Salva sought to expand on the groundwork laid by the original film. Specifically, he wanted to broaden the focus of the sequel by creating a larger cast of characters and exploring the relationships among them. “I really wanted to make this a very different experience in the world of sequels,” says Salva. “I wanted to make a sequel that feels like a brand new film – the same creature but a totally new cast of characters. The Creeper even has a few new tricks up his sleeve.”

In an early draft, Salva created the stranded school bus and its riders as a subplot. But as he developed the story, he found himself more and more intrigued by the dynamics at play between the trapped characters. In exploring that possibility, Salva drew inspiration from two of his favorite Hitchcock films, The Birds and Lifeboat. Salva shaped an ensemble piece where each character’s relationships with the others add to the tension and suspense of fighting for survival while in a very confined location.

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